Where was the first Purple Heart Awarded?

The award we have come to recognize as the Purple Heart actually found its roots not so much in the desire to create a new medal for military men to wear, as it was in the desire to honor a great American hero of the past. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. Nearly 200 years later the American public was preparing for the bi-centennial of his birth, complete with commemorative events and celebrations. In the process of researching the life of the Father of our Country in order to plan the celebration, General Washington's Executive Order of August 7, 1782 was found. Along with it was the record of his purple Badge of Military Merit and the accounts of the three men who had received it. On October 10, 1927 Army Chief of Staff, General Charles P. Summerall drafted a bill to send to Congress in an effort to revive the Badge of Military Merit. For whatever reasons, the bill received little support and was withdrawn early the following year.





As the bi-centennial celebration drew closer, General Summerall was replaced by General Douglas MacArthur, a hero of service in Mexico and World War I, and the son of a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient. With little public fanfare, General MacArthur began work anew on General Summerall's proposal to re-establish the Badge of Military Merit. Throughout 1931 the Army quietly designed and created the new award. It was announced on February 22, 1932...the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. In honor of the Father of our Country and the man who established our military's first medal, the Purple Heart would bear the profile on George Washington on its face.





The Army quickly embraced the new medal, authorizing its presentation to any soldier whose "wound...necessitates treatment by a medical officer and which is received in action with an enemy." The award itself was made retro-active, allowing World War I Army veterans who had been wounded in action to exchange previously received Meritorious Service Citation Certificates for the new Purple Heart Medal. In the early days of World War II, soldiers received the Purple Heart not only for wounds, but also in some circumstances, for meritorious service.





The Navy was not so quick to accept the Medal, and not until a year after Pearl Harbor was it authorized for sailors and Marines. On December 3, 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order authorizing the Purple Heart to sailors and Marines wounded or killed on or after December 6, 1941. This made all those injured or killed at Pearl Harbor eligible for the Purple Heart. At the same time he established the Legion of Merit medal for meritorious service, restricting the Purple Heart for award only to those killed or wounded in combat. Later, President Truman extended the time period for the award back to April 5, 1917, allowing Naval and Marine Corps veterans of World War I to receive the award.











Today the Purple Heart is perhaps, the most unique of all United States military awards. Though low in the order of precedence on the Pyramid of Honor (it ranks below the Bronze star), it is one of the most widely recognized and respected medals. It can not be earned by courage or by exceptional service or achievement. The Purple Heart signifies one thing...SACRIFICE. Whenever you see the Purple Heart, know that it represents either a combat death or a combat wound. It represents the blood that has been shed in defense of liberty.

Where was the first Purple Heart Awarded?
Vietnam
Reply:somewhere in queens
Reply:on the chest
Reply:cantcu had the correct answer 6 days ago.
Reply:The Purple Heart was awarded to three soldiers - Sgts. Elijah Churchill, William


Brown, and Daniel Bissell Jr. On May 3, 1783, Churchill and Brown received the


Purple Heart, then called the Badge of Military Merit, from Gen. George Washington,


its designer and creator. Bissell received his on June 10, 1783. These three are the only


known recipients of the award during the Revolutionary War.
Reply:President George Washington gave the 1st Purple Hearts for what he called "Military Merit", many believe that was going without pay for 6 years. It was definitely to boost moral. The type of decorative patch was related to how many years they were in military.
Reply:continental bay
Reply:August 7, 1782 by George Washington.





It was awarded for merit, not for being wounded! Since his recordings didn't survive, no one knows where the first one was awarded or given out! It was the official precursor of the Purple Heart as it is known now.





And you don't get one for just wounds that are treated by a medic, they had to be treated by an MD. Kind of weird if you ask me. Wounded is wounded, Medic's today do a lot of treatments to wounded soldiers!
Reply:Here's one answer to your question regarding the Purple Heart. This is another description of George Washington's involvement. I believe I also read somewhere that, prior to the Purple Heart being used to recognize wounds incurred in combat, some sort of wound stripe was used but I can't find a reference to that right now.
Reply:It was by George Washington in the revolution. thats why it has his face on it. it was brought back in ww2.
Reply:Once again, John is revising his story:





Campaign Says May Have Been Self-Inflicted





Washington -— In a reversal of their staunch defense of John Kerry’s military service record, Kerry campaign officials were quoted by Fox News saying that it was indeed possible that John Kerry’s first Purple Heart commendation was the result of an, unintentional, self-inflicted wound.


http://www.e-thepeople.org/article/34502...